The Prophet: On Love

BY KAHLIL GIBRAN

When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. 

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. 

Be God's Lady

Today marks the end of the Flores de Mayo, the May festivities dedicated to the Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Last night our parish had its Santacruzan, a procession that depicts the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Queen Helena of Constantinople (Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great. I looked out for favorite "participants of the Sagala, like the Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven), or Rosa Mistica (Mystical Rose), but did not find them. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it, especially watching the little girls dressed as angels holding the letters of the angelic salutation, AVE MARIA! I have to admit, though, that I miss the more traditional ones that I used to watch at my parents' small provincial town in Quezon. There seems to be too much pageantry going on now, and less of the religio-historical aspect that I grew to love. But I won't write about that here.

Before Mass earlier, I found myself looking at a stained-glass window of the Annunciation. For an instant, I felt like being brought back to that moment when our Sweetest Lady said her Fiat to Archangel Gabriel. As I stared in awe, almost seeing the delicate incomparable beauty of our Lady in the flesh, I could only utter a silent prayer for the grace to also grow in the virtues that Mother Mary has attained so perfectly!

The Hobbit, Winning One Soul for God

I am not a moviegoer. I can actually go on for months without watching a film on TV or on the big screen. When I do go, I usually just tag along with cousins or accompany a nephew and niece. But every now and then, when time permits, I watch marathons with my siblings. 

Last Friday night, December 12, was one of those rare occasions when I watched a movie at the theater. It was a special movie screening organized by the Dominican (Order of Preachers) student brothers to raise funds for their ministry to the youth, justice and peace, care for creation,  promotion of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to support their social communications media apostolate. The fund raising activity was dubbed The Hobbit, for the Habit of Sharing!

I have read the Hobbit a long time ago, before the first Lord of the Rings movie came out. I honestly don't remember the details of it anymore, except that I am pretty sure Legolas was not in it yet. 

I enjoyed the movie a lot. It had been a long time since I have done something relaxing and entertaining. But I admit that I did not pay a hundred-percent attention to the details of every scene. As Thorin searched for the Arkenstone, I was reminded of how men get too attached with worldly possessions and pleasures. How we sometimes fall into madness as we obsessively pursue success, financial security, power and recognition. In one scene, Thorin said, "If more of us valued... cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." In this capitalist world we live in now, sometimes we all fall prey to greed and forget the things that truly matter most, like family, friends, and our Faith.

I may sound too mushy, but towards the end of the movie, I was struck by Tauriel's words as she mourned the death of Kili: "If this is love, I don't want it. Take it away, please! Why does it hurt so much?" 

Thranduil, the Elvenking, replied, "Because it was real."

It echoed what Archbishop Soc said about love. "My dear young people, love is not a feeling. Love is sacrifice. And there is no greater love than to die for your beloved", he said.

Earlier that Friday, I was at the Araneta Coliseum for the "Win One for God: A Pope Rally" organized by the Couples For Christ-Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL) and the Family Rosary Crusade (FRC). It was a gathering that aimed to spiritually prepare the youth for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis in 2015, and it focused on the papal visit's theme, Mercy and Compassion. Archbishop Soc Villegas, D.D. presided over the Eucharistic celebration in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D. of the Diocese of Cubao as con-celebrant. During the homily, Archbishop Soc reminded the youth to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and not be afraid to ask God for forgiveness because He is our merciful and compassionate Father. He also explained why we do the sign of the cross ~ to know ("kilala"), love ("mahal") and accept ("tanggap") God. He emphasized that we should all keep our eyes fixed on Jesus; to focus on Him so that we may be able to do small acts of love and win a soul for God. 

As I watched the battle of the five armies, I thought of the daily struggles we go through and the inner wars we all fight in order to survive. In Bilbo, a hobbit, I thought of all the unsung heroes who work "behind the scenes" to make our daily existence more comfortable. I was also reminded of the shepherds who visited Jesus, ordinary folk who were used by God for a greater mission to spread the Joy of the Messiah's birth. I reflected on how we are all part of a great tapestry, that we all have something to do in the vineyard of the Lord. We all have a role to play, and God values our acts done in humility and love. 

Saint Therese' words echoed in my head, "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love."

I thought of Bilbo Baggins, and how he who is unknown and lowly has helped change the heart of Thorin. It was not by power nor by might that he accomplished his mission. 

Pure, sacrificial love was the answer. It always has to be Love.

Faith is Stronger than Yolanda: A Year After the Storm

"In deep pain, people don't need logic, advice, encouragement, or even Scripture. They just need you to show up..." ~Rick Warren.

Mass grave in the Palo Cathedral grounds

I was not in the Philippines when I heard the news about typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) wrecking havoc in the Visayas region. The towns there were cut off from electricity and communication. For the first few days, anxiety was high as we waited for news from relatives living there. It was heartbreaking to learn that family members of some of my friends did not survive. One of my cousins decided to fly to Cebu and from there, took a ferry to Ormoc. It was the only way to reach Alang-alang and Palo, where our relatives live. I do not want to sound insensitive, but my family is grateful we have not lost loved ones in Typhoon Yolanda last November 08, 2013. All my relatives in Leyte survived. But I feel their sorrow for the people that meant to them who perished that day. I listened to the stories of my cousins' harrowing experience that fateful morning when the super typhoon ravaged their town and damaged almost everything in its path. I talked with some other survivors when I visited Palo, Leyte about two months ago. Their stories still echo the deep sorrow of losing those dear to them. I guess it's easier to say you've moved on, but in reality, the anguish will never totally go away.   

One of the dormitory rooms at
St. John the Evangelist School of Theology

How do you comfort the bereaved? No words can ever be enough to ease the grief of someone saddened and deprived by the death of a loved one. Especially one that is due to a natural disaster. Sometimes, taking time to visit them suffices. I have proven that to be true when I went to Palo. The survivors I spoke with expressed deep appreciation for being remembered to be checked on. One mother was even in tears as she thanked me for my gesture of flying all the way from Manila just to meet and talk with them. 

Bro. Ryan Salvacion

I got to speak with some seminarians of the Saint John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte. One of them, Bro. Ryan Salvacion of San Joaquin Parish, Palo, recounted that he and his brother-seminarians were up early that day. He was serving in the morning celebration of the Holy Eucharist. He remembered it had been raining the whole night, but they were not particularly worried about the typhoon. The Philippine islands are battered by storms every year, and Yolanda did not really alarm them. Bro. Ryan said he thought the storm-surges were unlikely to reach the seminary. But when it did come, the water rose up so high they held on to the ceiling joists of the dormitory. 

Bro. Ryan said a verse from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans kept ringing in his head while they were all afloat and expecting death: "For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8). He said it was a moment of abandonment to Divine Providence, because in life and in death, we are all in the hands of God.

Bro. Jonathan Saavedra showed me
what used to be his dorm room

Bro. Jonathan Saavedra, another seminarian in Palo, but hails from Tagum, Davao del Norte, said he also found comfort in the promise of God as he held on to dear life. "The Lord says, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you... For I am the Lord your God.'" (Isaiah 43:1-3). 

In Bro. Jonathan's words: "This passage from Isaiah is a promise from the Lord that He will really save us from any calamity. Faith is stronger than Yolanda. I told the Lord that if it His will, if it is His plan that I become a priest, I prayed Lord save us! Save us from death!" 

When the waters subsided, he said he knew God still has great plans for them. 40 seminarians and two priests inside the dormitory, all survived the fury of Yolanda.

Women I had the honor to speak with

One year after the supertyphoon hit the Philippines' Eastern seaboard, the outpouring of love from people from around the world is still overwhelming. Some housewives I have visited and spoken to said the assistance and donations that everyone sent will never be forgotten. They particularly remember the very big help that the Catholic Relief Services has done to alleviate their suffering. One of the women told me that the mere presence of the volunteers from different nations who responded days after Yolanda made landfall, gave them reason to hold on. They knew someone cared enough to come and help them. They felt loved and not forgotten.

Basey, Samar, a few days after Yolanda made landfall
Photo credit: Fr. Ronnie Santos of the Diocese of Cubao

The courage and heroism of those men and women I spoke with are truly remarkable. Their warmth and smiles were genuine even between holding back tears. The fortitude that got them back on their feet again to rebuild and start anew shows heroism and strength of spirit. They have shown me what resilience and hope is about. One year after, the rehabilitation of the towns devastated by Yolanda is not totally done yet. And help still pours.

Clergy & Lay volunteers of the Diocese of Cubao
filling up a 10-wheeler truck
of relief goods for the survivors of Yolanda.

How can we contribute? Our compassion must take us where our hands reach out to touch, where our hearts listen and empathize, our mouths uplift, encourage and speak love, and where our feet move us to meet those who are suffering. Our feeling of deep sympathy must cause us to act and to do something to alleviate their pain, no matter how small the deed would be.

This, I realized, was what Jesus did during His ministry. Jesus gave us the example to follow: we are called to become like Him for others, to show His mercy and love; to be His hands and feet to those in need. Compassion must move us to take action and ease the sorrow of those who are broken and hurting. 

Before and After pictures: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
in Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City
(One of the parishes adopted by the Diocese of Cubao)

As we share our time, treasure and talent in the rehabilitation of the towns ravaged by Yolanda, let us also always remember to pray for those who perished, and those they have left behind.

Let us pray with the families affected by the supertyphoon: Most Loving Father, One year ago, the fury of Typhoon Yolanda made us experience darkness and the pain of losing everything; it made us understand the meaning of despair. But in the midst of all these, You never have forsaken us. In the most special way, You gifted us courage and strength to rise again. In the most loving way, You shielded us with mercy and compassion. And You accomplished miracles through those who came to our aid. And as we remember that day today, we thank You for the gift of faith, hope and love. We thank You for bringing us closer to You. We thank You for letting us live another day. Spare our nation from the wrath of nature, as we find ways to care for Your Creation.

Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.